Belonging to God
Wednesday October 21
And you also became God’s people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised. The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise his glory!
Ephesians 1:13-14 Good News Bible
Listening to the gospel and hearing the gospel are not the same things. We can listen to it and pay no attention to it at all. Or we can hear it, giving us the chance to believe, giving the message a chance to grip our hearts like never before. Then we can trust that when we revel in the joys of our relationship with God through Jesus, we come to understand that our relationship is preciously sealed by God’s Holy Spirit.
During these past few months where the world has had to pay attention to the invisible enemy of the coronavirus, people of all ages may have felt swamped by difficulties. Others may have felt overwhelmed by their situation or the situations of those around them, perhaps losing a loved one, losing employment, losing a home, or losing sense of what was normal for them.
And yet, many Christians seem to be going through it all relatively calmly. Professor Jason Leitch is a Christian. We see and hear him on our televisions providing regular updates on the coronavirus. He said recently in an article in ‘Life and Work’ that ‘The virus has not shaken my faith’.
Deep rooted confidence is something that can be heard among many Christians who won’t be shaken. Friends, we may not know exactly what the future holds but we do know that because we belong to God, he holds our future.
Ephesians 1:13-14 Good News Bible
Listening to the gospel and hearing the gospel are not the same things. We can listen to it and pay no attention to it at all. Or we can hear it, giving us the chance to believe, giving the message a chance to grip our hearts like never before. Then we can trust that when we revel in the joys of our relationship with God through Jesus, we come to understand that our relationship is preciously sealed by God’s Holy Spirit.
During these past few months where the world has had to pay attention to the invisible enemy of the coronavirus, people of all ages may have felt swamped by difficulties. Others may have felt overwhelmed by their situation or the situations of those around them, perhaps losing a loved one, losing employment, losing a home, or losing sense of what was normal for them.
And yet, many Christians seem to be going through it all relatively calmly. Professor Jason Leitch is a Christian. We see and hear him on our televisions providing regular updates on the coronavirus. He said recently in an article in ‘Life and Work’ that ‘The virus has not shaken my faith’.
Deep rooted confidence is something that can be heard among many Christians who won’t be shaken. Friends, we may not know exactly what the future holds but we do know that because we belong to God, he holds our future.
Prayer
Lord, we thank you that we know what it means to belong to you. We thank you for Jesus – for his coming and living among us so that we may be part of your family. We thank you for those, who because of their love and kindness have watched over us in love. For friends and neighbours who help us to feel part of our community, for groups and clubs which add friendship and adventure, we are grateful. And we thank you that we can be part of your church. Please help us to be more loving and understanding with those who seek to belong to you. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Lord, we thank you that we know what it means to belong to you. We thank you for Jesus – for his coming and living among us so that we may be part of your family. We thank you for those, who because of their love and kindness have watched over us in love. For friends and neighbours who help us to feel part of our community, for groups and clubs which add friendship and adventure, we are grateful. And we thank you that we can be part of your church. Please help us to be more loving and understanding with those who seek to belong to you. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
© 2020 St Ninian's Parish Church.
Scottish Charity Number SC007453
Scottish Charity Number SC007453
